SARDINIA, N.Y. — Following concerns raised by residents, safety improvements will be made on Route 16 in the Town of Sardinia. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced Tuesday that centerline rumble strips will be installed on that stretch of road.
This announcement comes a month after Cameron Velasquez was killed in a crash on Route 16. Since his death, the Velasquez family has been circulating a petition calling for the road to be made safer.
New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan says the NYSDOT will install centerline rumble strips along a five and a half mile stretch of Route 16 as part of their statewide program.
“I commend the Velasquez family and other residents for bringing this issue to our attention in an effort to prevent another family from suffering a similar loss,” Gallivan said. “I believe these measures will improve the safety of the road and help prevent future accidents.”
The project began Monday and will likely be finished by the ending of the week, depending on the weather.
The NYSDOT released the following statement regarding the safety improvements:
"The New York State Department of Transportation has installed centerline rumble strips on nearly 4,400 miles of roadway since 2010, including 285 miles in Western New York. That initiative is ongoing, and work began yesterday on a 5.5-mile section of Route 16 from just north of Curriers-Sardinia Road to south of the intersection of Vermont Street and Capitol Heights Street in Sardinia. Weather permitting, that project will be completed this week."